Around the Fire

If you're ready to become the kind of guide who can help others cultivate a deeper relationship with God, I invite you to explore our upcoming spiritual direction training program. Reach out with questions or requests for more information. Together, we’ll learn how to navigate the interior castles to communion with God. Learning how this journey takes place, we’ll be better prepared to help others...

I always appreciate each read of these words about the possibility of a richer connection with Jesus. A subscription — free or paid — not only helps me keep this independent publication in spiritual formation growing but also helps you stay on the way to a deeper life with Jesus. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit g...

I appreciate all who support, subscribe, and share this independent endeavor in spiritual formation with friends and family. If you haven’t already — please consider choosing a free or paid subscription as well as gifting a subscription to someone who would be interested in content about the way to a deeper life with Jesus. The Confessional Prayer of Daniel Please, Adonai, great and fearsome God,...

I appreciate all who support, subscribe, and share this independent endeavor in spiritual formation with friends and family. If you haven’t already — please consider choosing a free or paid subscription as well as gifting a subscription to someone who would be interested in content about the way to a deeper life with Jesus. Some of the prayer stations being used in the spiritual community I guide...

I appreciate all who support, subscribe, and share this independent endeavor in spiritual formation with friends and family. If you haven’t already — please consider choosing a free or paid subscription as well as gifting a subscription to someone who would be interested in content about the way to a deeper life with Jesus. First: A Centering Word * What to do: read the words from a lecture by Joh...

Thank you for passing along The Compass to others who would find this spiritual formation resource meaningful and impactful. If you're ready to become the kind of guide who can help others cultivate a deeper relationship with God, I invite you to explore our upcoming spiritual direction training program. Reach out with questions or requests for more information. Together, we’ll learn how to naviga...

I appreciate all who support, subscribe, and share this independent endeavor in spiritual formation with friends and family. If you haven’t already — please consider choosing a free or paid subscription as well as gifting a subscription to someone who would be interested in knowing about the certificate program in spiritual direction. Spiritual Immaturity among U. S. Christians, 2022 Graph #2: Spi...

If you would like more information about spiritual direction, and a certificate program in spiritual direction offered by The Compass Center, please reach out and I’ll send you more information so you can see if this might be a great fit for you in 2025. I appreciate all who support, subscribe, and share this independent endeavor in spiritual formation with friends and family. If you haven’t alrea...

I appreciate all who support, subscribe, and share this independent endeavor in spiritual formation with friends and family. If you haven’t already — please consider choosing a free or paid subscription as well as gifting a subscription to someone who would be interested in content about the way to a deeper life with Jesus. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscri...

Interested in becoming a spiritual guide to spiritual seekers? A certificate program in spiritual growth might be exactly the right fit for you in 2025. The program begins in mid-March. Leave a comment if you have questions or want more information. I appreciate all who support, subscribe, and share this independent endeavor in spiritual formation with friends and family. If you haven’t already —...

I appreciate all who support, subscribe, and share this independent endeavor in spiritual formation with friends and family. If you haven’t already — please consider choosing a free or paid subscription as well as gifting a subscription to someone who would be interested in knowing about the certificate program in spiritual direction. Find a podcast describing an upcoming opportunitey to become a...

I’m excited to share with you an incredible opportunity that could be the perfect fit for you. Starting in mid-March 2025 , I’ll be offering an inaugral nine-month certificate program in spiritual direction , and I want YOU to be among the first to hear about it. If you’re ready to take a deep dive into spiritual formation and learn how to help others grow closer to God, keep listening. WHAT IS CH...

“But now, O Lord, You are our Father; we are the clay, and You are our potter; and we all are the work of Your hand.” (Isaiah 64:8) “My little children, for whom I am again in [the pains of] labor until Christ is [completely] formed within you.” (Galations 4:19, AMP) “My little children, again I feel the pain of childbirth for you until ·you truly become like Christ [   Christ is formed in you].”...

I appreciate all who support, subscribe, and share this independent endeavor in spiritual formation with friends and family. If you haven’t already — please consider choosing a free or paid subscription as well as gifting a subscription to someone who would enjoy the resources and encouragement to begin navigating the way to a richer, life-altering connection with Jesus. THE FOURTH O ANTIPHON: O R...

O KEY OF DAVID O Key of David, opening the gates of God’s eternal Kingdom: come and free the prisoners of darkness! THE SCRIPTURE READINGS: ISAIAH 22:22 & 42:7 AND REVELATION 3:7 Read the antiphon one more time. Then read the Isaiah prophecies about the doors the Messiah will open. "I will place the key of David’s house on his shoulder; no one will shut what he opens; no one will open what he shut...

I learned something quite intriguing about the O Antiphons preparing for this brief series here on The Trailhead . As you know, there are seven different O Antipons, each centering on a different name for Jesus in scripture. Here are those seven different names, in order of use in the O Antiphon liturgy: * O Sapientia (O Wisdom) – December 17 * O Adonai (O Lord) – December 18 * O Radix Jesse (O Ro...

The second O Antiphon focuses on Jesus as "Adonai," a Hebrew name for God that highlights God as the true sovereign, holding power over all rulers and authorities. Throughout the Bible, we see many human rulers who claimed sovereignty — figures like Pharaoh and Caesar, for example. By naming God as Adonai, the message is clear: all human rulers are posers and imposters, subject to the rule of God,...

The first O Antiphon draws our attention to Jesus as Wisdom. O WISDOM O Wisdom, you come forth from the mouth of the Most High. You create the universe and hold all things together with strength and sweetness. O come to teach us the way of Truth. I encourage you to take your time as you read this first of the seven O Antiphons. Pay close attention to how Jesus is described in the prayer. Who does...

Mark Brewster is my guest for this first episode of The Pastor’s Heart. A pastor for 30 years, he and his wife are now part of Oasis Rest International, offering space and opportunity for pastoral couples a respite amid the challenges and difficulties of ministry. You can find out more about Oasis Rest International at https://oasisrest.org/ This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this...

Vizio Divina: A Christian Contemplative Practice Visio Divina (Latin for "divine seeing") is a form of contemplative prayer that involves focusing on an image or a work of art to deepen one's connection with God. It's similar to Lectio Divina (divine reading), which involves meditating on Scripture, but instead, Visio Divina uses visual images as a way to get out of your head and into your heart....

Thank you for listening…and a subscription discount offer: I appreciate all who support, subscribe, and share this independent endeavor with friends and family. If you haven’t already — please consider choosing a free or paid subscription as well as gifting a subscription to someone who would enjoy it. I’m offering a 40% subscription price discount for any subscription through December 15. Click o...

Four Simple Steps to Build a Spiritual Core Being Freed from Aggression Step One: Build a few moments for quiet reflection each day. Give it a fresh and creative name that identifies what you hope to gain. I grew up with “Daily Devotions” as a name for this moment. Use it if you want. However, I now call it “Selah” borrowing from the old Hebrew word that means to pause and think. Centering, or Rec...

Eucharist-O is a playful name for a contemplative practice highlighting the indispensable practice of giving thanks. Today’s focus is on the connection between courage and giving thanks. The act of giving thanks is an act of brazen boldness. To read a post on this topic, head over to my Substack page to read the article called, “ Eucharist-O: Why It Takes Courage to Be Thankful .” Here are three r...

This independent endeavor in spiritual formation, which includes both a newsletter and a podcast, has been growing. There are now nearly 10,000 readers, viewers, and listeners in 26 different countries in Europe, Africa, South America, Asia, and North America. While my goal is to publish nearly every day, I’ve broken my publishing routine the past few days to reflect on where this is going. In the...

The invitation given to you by the Eucharist-O today is to give thanks for the men and women who went before you on the way to a deeper life with God and then helped you find and navigate the way yourself. Today, I’m giving thanks for Elton Trueblood. Head over to Compass, my spiritual formation newsletter on Substack to read how my journey with this giant. Look for the post titled, “Eucharist-O:...